Need controller feedback

[timk]

Newbie could use some feedback on a proposed controller setup. 

I've spent about 40-50 hours reading the forums, looking at other controller layouts and searching on-line store inventories. 

Here is a short list of design goals:

1.  Would like to have a 4-player layout similar to Gauntlet, Simpsons, etc.
2.  Want to have rotating stick for Ikari Warriors, Heavy Weapon, etc.
3.  Would like to minimize the amount of hardware on the control panel.  Ideally, 4 joysticks, trac ball, spinner and possibly flight control stick, plus whatever buttons are needed.
4.  This wasn't in my original goals but it sounds like the pros here really advocate having some sort of 4-way controller for Pac Man, etc. 

With that said, here is my proposed joystick setup:

Players 1 & 2 would get the Mag-Stik Plus which apparently has external switch to go from 8-way to 4-way. 

Players 3 & 4 would get the Happ Rotary Joystick specifically for use with Ikari Warriors, etc.  My thinking is that for the small number of games which would make use of the rotating function, I could MAME to re-map players 1 and 2 to the P3 and P4 joysticks and buttons. 

Are those two sticks good?  I haven't read much about either.  Is there any functional reason why this may/would not work?  It may be a bit confusing, but I'm not sure that it's any more confusing than having 4 standard joysticks plus another set of rotary joysticks on the CP.  And it would only apply to a VERY small number of games. 

On another note, what buttons do folks typically use for games like Tempest and Centipede when the spinner/trac is near the middle of the CP?  Is it just a matter of picking the button(s) that feel best?

Lastly, I've considered adding LED-lit buttons to the setup and using LED Blinky to light the active buttons.  Looks like this would add another $150 or so to the build.  I'm assuming that's money well spent but could use a little reassurance.     Anyone care to convince me this is the best way to go? 

Thanks!

[mgb]

Number 3 on your list kinda contradicts the rest of what you want.

remember that if you use rotary joysticks, you will need a rotary input device (I forget who makes it).
I may be wrong, but I thought the rotation in mame didn't work great because its made more for use with a mouse.

Retroblast did a review on the Happs rotary stick and it was good.

I've heard of some complaints with the mag stick plus joysticks. Basically just that the nut gets loose and the changing from 4 to 8 way or vica versa doesn't work right. I've never used them but thats what I've read, so look it up.
I personally love the Sanwa JLWs but you need to open the cp in order to switch them.

For buttons to use on your spinner games, you are best off designing your cp so that while using the spinner, you can use buttons from one of the player setups


With Leds, remember that the controllers are 32 port and if using rgbs (in order to make the button any color per game), each button will use 3 ports. That means that you may need more than one controller because one controller will only cover 10 rgb buttons.

[timk]

Number 3 on your list kinda contradicts the rest of what you want.

True.  In looking at other people's CP photos, I saw one that had four 8-way joysticks, one 4-way joystick, two rotaries and a flight stick.  That's sort of what I was trying to avoid. 

remember that if you use rotary joysticks, you will need a rotary input device (I forget who makes it).
I may be wrong, but I thought the rotation in mame didn't work great because its made more for use with a mouse.

Ultimarc has a rotary input board:

http://www.ultimarc.com/rotary.html

It says that it maps the rotary functions to [ ] /  \.  I modified the controls in Mame32 so that the bracket controlled the rotation and tested it on my keyboard.  Worked well there so I figured the stick would work just as well.  Might have to test that to be sure.  Having the rotary capabilities is definitely one of my drop-dead features.   Was addicted to 2-player Ikari and Heavy Barrel back in the day. 

I've heard of some complaints with the mag stick plus joysticks. Basically just that the nut gets loose and the changing from 4 to 8 way or vica versa doesn't work right. I've never used them but thats what I've read, so look it up.
I personally love the Sanwa JLWs but you need to open the cp in order to switch them.

Thanks, I'll check that out. 

Is it conceivable to build a front CP access door to reach the 4-way /8-way switch on the Sanwa? 

With Leds, remember that the controllers are 32 port and if using rgbs (in order to make the button any color per game), each button will use 3 ports. That means that you may need more than one controller because one controller will only cover 10 rgb buttons.

I was just thinking one LED per button--just a means to identify the active buttons for the selected game.  LED Blinky has a great demo video where it flashes each button and even recites the associated command.  Looks like this is a relatively simple setup with the software handling most of the heavy lifting once the wiring is done properly. 

I thought the LEDs would be very useful for situations where we have a lot of friends or family over and I don't want to spend the entire night telling guests which button on the panel is the Superzapper for Tempest and which is the smart bomb for Defender.   

Just trying to talk myself into the extra $150 or so that it will cost.   

[mgb]

One thing I've personally learned in building panels is that compromise is important.
It seems that the lack of compromise leads to a frankenpanel.

Personally I like a simple 2 player control panel. All of the most revered projects here are simple and to the point control wise.

So I would definately advise you to take a good look around and see what appears to work.